In the first chapter of Luke's Gospel Mary, the mother of Jesus, celebrated God's activity in her life and in the lives of God's people throughout time. Her song of praise is called the Magnificat, taken from the first word of the hymn in the Latin Vulgate ("magnifies"). It is a song of unbridled joy at God's activity. The biblical concept of joy may include the idea of happiness, but it is not defined by it. Happiness comes and goes depending on circumstances. Our word 'happy' is based on the term 'hap', which means "fortune", or "luck". The verb means "to occur by chance". The biblical concept of joy is a settled confidence that I rest securely in God's grace, no matter what my circumstances are. The Greek word for joy comes from the same root term from which the word grace is derived. Joy does not depend on chance but on God's amazing and steadfast grace.
As you read Mary's song of joyous praise, remember the circumstances surrounding it. Mary is engaged to a Jewish man, in a strict Jewish society. She is found to be pregnant, although she is a virgin. Who would believe that her child is from God's Holy Spirit? Her own soon-to-be husband did not believe until an angel from God verified Mary's story. Imagine the stigma that would forever surround Mary in Jewish society. And yet, she trusted in God's gracious hand on her life and willingly submitted to His plan. Furthermore, she chose not to whine and complain about God's plan, but to rejoice in it despite the cost.
Her song expresses joy in who God is to her and to His people, joy in how God works in our lives, and joy in His reliability. Her trust in God was based on His track record in the past, and her own experience with Him. God had fulfilled His promises to His people in the past, and God had cared for Mary in her past. She could rest in His sovereign grace now and in the future.
Do you possess that kind of confident joy in God? Are you rejoicing over His plan for your life? Who is God to you? How has He worked in your past? How has He proven Himself utterly reliable? Mary rejoiced in God's troublesome plan for her life because His work through her would truly bring Joy to the World. How does God want to use you to share His message of joy?
BSFL Sunday School Commentary for the week of December 13, 2009
Joy to the World Luke 1
As you read Mary's song of joyous praise, remember the circumstances surrounding it. Mary is engaged to a Jewish man, in a strict Jewish society. She is found to be pregnant, although she is a virgin. Who would believe that her child is from God's Holy Spirit? Her own soon-to-be husband did not believe until an angel from God verified Mary's story. Imagine the stigma that would forever surround Mary in Jewish society. And yet, she trusted in God's gracious hand on her life and willingly submitted to His plan. Furthermore, she chose not to whine and complain about God's plan, but to rejoice in it despite the cost.
Her song expresses joy in who God is to her and to His people, joy in how God works in our lives, and joy in His reliability. Her trust in God was based on His track record in the past, and her own experience with Him. God had fulfilled His promises to His people in the past, and God had cared for Mary in her past. She could rest in His sovereign grace now and in the future.
Do you possess that kind of confident joy in God? Are you rejoicing over His plan for your life? Who is God to you? How has He worked in your past? How has He proven Himself utterly reliable? Mary rejoiced in God's troublesome plan for her life because His work through her would truly bring Joy to the World. How does God want to use you to share His message of joy?